Sir George Oatley: Architect of Bristol

6 December 2010

Architectural historian Sarah Whittingham (PhD 2005) tells the story of Sir George Oatley’s (1863-1950) very full life, from his poor childhood on the Isle of Wight, to running the most successful architectural practice in Bristol on his return to his native city.

Architectural historian Sarah Whittingham (PhD 2005) tells the story of Sir George Oatley’s (1863-1950) very full life, from his poor childhood on the Isle of Wight, to running the most successful architectural practice in Bristol on his return to his native city.

Oatley was Bristol’s most significant twentieth century architect. His buildings – banks, offices, factories, churches, shops and houses – transformed the face of the city. His greatest works were designed for Bristol University, and its Wills Memorial Building of 1925 was the last great Gothic secular building to be built in Britain.

This is the first book to be written about Oatley, and is the result of over ten years’ research and the study of thousands of previously unexamined letters and drawings. It includes a catalogue of works that vastly increases our knowledge of the wide range of buildings that Oatley designed during his long career. Buildings discussed include well-known ones, such as Bristol Homeopathic Hospital, the H H Wills Physics Laboratory and St Monica Home of Rest, as well as less familiar designs, including mental asylums, houses and commercial buildings.

Sir George Oatley: Architect of Bristol by Sarah Whittingham will be published by Redcliffe Press Ltd in February 2011 priced £49.75. You can order a copy now for the special pre-publication price of £35. To place your order email sales@redcliffepress.co.uk.